College and Career Happenings
February 2015
Filing the FAFSA, Scholarships, College Visits, College Research Sessions
Filing the FAFSA (This information is repeated from January's edition)
Senior families should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Families can start the application on January 1st. My colleagues at the Academy for College Admission Counseling have graciously prepared two resources that will be helpful as families are completing the FAFSA. The first is Financial Aid 2015. It is an extensive document providing tips for filing, financial resources on the web, financial aid terms and award letters. The second is a draft of the 2015 FAFSA form. Plan to complete the form right away for the greatest chances of receiving aid. Click here for more information on getting started. Click here to find FAFSA Completion Workshops in the area. Finally, the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may be helpful as you are organizing your information.
As a result of completing the FAFSA, families will receive award letters during late March or early April. These letters detail the financial aid package offered by each school. Students do not have to commit to attending a college until May 1. This allows time for families to review the award letters and compare the costs of attendance for each school.
Scholarships
Many seniors have been admitted to at least one college allowing them to shift their focus to applying for scholarships. Watch the scholarship list in Family Connection (directions are below) for appropriate scholarships and apply!!! Create a profile on Fastweb for additional scholarship options. Also access specific college websites for information on institutional scholarships.
College Visits
February is a great time for juniors to start planning college visits. Whether you are visiting local colleges or traveling out of state, make arrangements early. Check the document library in Family Connection for tips on planning these visits.
College Research Sessions
Mrs. Manderino is offering College Research Sessions. These sessions are intended to help juniors get started researching colleges. Topics included in this session are as follows:
- Criteria students may use to search for colleges
- Importance of the campus visit
- Number of colleges to apply to
- Resources to use when researching colleges
Sessions will be offered during the following times:
Thursday, March 19, 7:30, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B
Friday March 20, 5A, 5B
Students should sign up below or in the College and Career Center to participate.
- Stay focused on academics. Final transcripts will be sent to colleges.
- While many application deadlines have passed, there are still plenty of colleges accepting applications. Continue working on these applications and essays. If you are using the Common Application, find our school under "Community High School District 99 North" not Downers Grove North High School.
- Request letters of recommendation from teachers if needed (3 weeks prior to the due date)
- Complete the FAFSA form.
- Use net price calculators on colleges' websites or the FAFSA4caster to estimate costs.
- Search for scholarships! Check Family Connection weekly, utilize each college's website (scholarships and financial aid section), and create a profile on Fastweb.
February tips for juniors:
- Stay focused on academics. You are writing your academic story with the grades you earn each day.
- Continue researching careers, colleges, and military options. Use Family Connection and the college research links on the website.
- Learn about financial aid.
- Sign up for college representative visits to DGN using Family Connection (see directions below).
- Plan to visit colleges or attend a college fair.
- Consider creating a testing plan. If you want to take college admission tests more than once, plan ahead (Check out the dates for ACT or SAT).
College Visit Information
Parents can view a list of college representatives visiting DGN by following these steps.
1. Log in to Family Connection
2. Click on "I'm a guest"
3. Enter the password "purpleandwhite"
4. Click on the colleges tab on the left side.
5. Upcoming college visit information can be found on the right side
Students can sign up to meet with college representatives visiting DGN by following these steps.
1. Log in to Family Connection
2. Click on the "colleges" tab
3. "view upcoming visits"
4. Next to the college you choose, click "sign up"
5. "sign me up"
6. Pick up the purple pass the morning of the visit from the College and Career Center.
Summer Enrichment Opportunities
1. Log in to Family Connection using student or guest access (directions for guest access can be found above in the College Visit Information section).
2. Click on the "colleges" tab
3. Scroll down to "college research"
4. Click on "enrichment programs"
Scholarship Information
Students can utilize the scholarship list by doing the following:
1. Log in to Family Connection
2. Click on the "colleges" tab
3. Scroll down to "scholarships & money"
4. Click on "scholarship list"
Events
University of Illinois School of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Information Sessions
Midwest College of Cosmetology Open House
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Career Expo for High School Students
This Career Expo will explore careers in Engineering, Mathematics, Science and Technology. This event is free and no registration is required. Parking is free and located on the west side of Wilson Hall. For more information go to: http://ed.fnal.gov/programs/careerfair/.
Wednesday, Apr 22, 2015, 05:30 PM
Fermilab's Wilson Hall, Batavia
Latino Health Science Enrichment Program (Summer 2015)
College and Career Center
Email: tmanderino@csd99.org
Website: http://north.csd99.org/
Location: Room 127
Phone: 630-795-8021
Twitter: @DGNCCC